Improvement in can-openers



1. u. MURPHY.

Can Opener.

* N0,159,767" PatentedFeb.16.l875.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFEIo JEREMIAH H. MURPHY, OF OPELIKA, ALABAMA.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAN-OPENERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 159,767, dated February 16, 1875; application filed April 30, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JEREMIAH H. MURPHY, of Opelika, in the county of Lee and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gan-Openers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in devices for opening tin cans or boxes, and consisfs in the combination of devices and appliances, as hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in elevation of my instrument, taken on that side to which the cutter is attached. Fig. 2 is a similar view, taken upon the opposite side to that on which the cutter is attached. Fig. 3 is a front view of same, taken in the direction of the plane of the lug. Fig. 4 is a similar view, taken from the back of the knife. Fig. 5 is a separate view of the knife and of the handle with the knife withdrawn, and Fig. 6 is a section taken through the head of the lever.

A is a handle, curved at one end into a shoulder, B. Upon the left side of this lever A when in use is a dovetailed slot, 0. This dovetailed slot extends from the point a to the point I), and tapers toward the same direction, so that the blade I) is formed with a thick back, but with its front portion sharpened to a cutting-edge, and is curved outward from the shoulder B to its point, so as to out in a curved direction. E is a lug, rounded at its end, and formed upon the side of the shoulder B that is opposite the knife, which serves as a guide for the knife. The shoulder B serves as a fulcrum, and the handle A as a lever to work the knife through the tin. or other like material.

This can-opener may be constructed of a casting. The handle A, with the dovetail slot 0, shoulder B, and rounded lug E, may be cast in a single piece, and the knife D fitted in the slot 0. The knife, as will be readily seen, can be removed for the purpose of sharpening or to replace it with a new blade.

What I claim is 1. In combination with the handle A, with its dovetail bevel-slot O, shoulder B, and lug E, cast in a single piece, the curved knife D, constructed with a dovetailed and beveled shank, as and for the purposes described.

2. As an article of manufacture the canopener herein described, consisting of the handle A, dovetailed bevel-slot O, shoulder B, and lug E, cast in a single piece, and removable curved blade I), as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand.

JEREMIAH H. MURPHY.

Witnesses:

JNO. D. HOOPER, FRENCH STRANGE. 

